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Hearty Baked Harvest Cheeses with Noodles - DnD, Fantasy, Video Game Inspired Recipes

This Macaroni and Cheese recipe has a delightful cheese pull, ooey gooey creamy cheese, and a crispy crunchy broiled cheese to top it off! So much cheese... the Inn is going to have the local cheesemakers working overtime!
Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword bake, cheese, macaroni, macaroni and cheese
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 12 adventurers
Cost 45 gold

Equipment

  • 1 Large Saute Pan
  • 1 Medium to Large Baking Dish

Ingredients

  • 1 lb cavatappi pasta cooked in salted, boiling water for 7 minutes
  • 1 lb extra sharp cheddar
  • 1 lb mozzerella
  • 1 lb smoked gouda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1 tbsp garlic granules or powder
  • ½ tbsp paprika smoked preferred, you can also add 1-2 drops of liquid smoke if you only have regular paprika
  • 4 tbsp flour
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 12 oz evaporated milk 1 can
  • 2 cup whole milk
  • fresh oregano garnish, optional

Instructions

Prep

  • Preheat the oven to 350F (175C)
  • Cook the pasta in salted, boiling water for 7 minutes. We want the pasta slightly underdone, as it will finish cooking in the oven. Set aside for later.
  • Freshly shred all the cheese. Do not buy pre-shredded, as that typically has a coating to prevent clumping, and will make the cheese sauce grainy.
  • Mix the freshly shredded cheeses together, and divide in half. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, mix the salt, pepper, garlic granules, and paprika. Set aside.

Prepare the sauce

  • In a large saute pan on medium heat, melt the butter. Add in 1/2 of the spices, and cook for about 30 seconds.
  • Add the flour. Cook for 2 minutes, while stirring continuously.
  • Add in the evaporated milk, a little at a time, ensuring you fully combine the mixture before adding more.
  • Add in the whole milk, a little at a time, ensuring you fully combine the mixture before adding more. Cook on medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
  • Turn heat to low. Slowly add 1/2 of the shredded cheese mixture. Mix in a little at a time, ensuring the cheese fully melts before adding more. Add the remaining spices.
  • Mix in the cooked pasta with the cheese sauce.

Bake

  • In a large baking dish, add 1/2 of the cooked pasta and cheese sauce mixture. Sprinkle half of the remaining shredded cheese. Add the remaining pasta and cheese mixture, then top the whole dish with the remaining shredded cheese.
  • Bake the macaroni and cheese for 25 minutes.
  • Finally, broil for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the top of the macaroni and cheese begins to brown.
  • Top with fresh oregano and serve. Enjoy, adventurer!